Bridge table



10, 1936. I F. s. LAPEYRE 2,3,2@

BRIDGE TABLE Filed Oct. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Shed 1 Snventor E 5'. Za/pqyre (Itornegs.

Mam}! 1936. F. s. LAPEYRE 2,033,52

BRIDGE TABLE Filed Oct. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhmentor Faith/ 36 m 8g /q-W some Mo. 10, lacs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 messes v BRIDGE TABLE rm s mi-m New 0mm. 1:... Applica ion 0mm 25, 1935; Serial K0. was

' 4 Claims. (cl. err-as) The present invention relates to improvements in bridge tables, and has for an object to provide a collapmble leg construction of simple and novel form in which the legs are all required to move in unison.

I amaware that the above general purpose has been attempted in prior patents notably in the Paul Patent No. 1,976,140 andin thesmith Patent No. 1,534,470, but all prior constructions have been prohibitive commercially and I aim to provide a more facile, economical and emcicnt construction enabling the device to be sold profitably at a relatively small price.

with 'the'foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be'more fully described hereinaitenand will be more particularlypointed out in the'claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, V v

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view oi a bridge table constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the legs in the collapsed position.

Figure2isaverticalsectiontaken ontheline 2-22 in Figure 1 with the legs partially opened ou 4 Figure 3 is a similar view with the-legs par tialiy broken away and illustrated in the fully open position.

Figure 4 is also a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing the completely collapsed position on the leg structure.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on thelineE-Iinldgurel. I

Figure 6 is a side view, with parts broken away and parts shown in section, oi'a modifled iorm of metal shaft, and

Figure '1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shaft shoirringv a method of producing the arm therefrom. I I 1 Referring more particularly to thedrawings 2 represents the table top which is supported in the usual manner on the rectangular open frame composed of the front and rear members 5 and.

I0 and the side members It and i2. In the side members It and i2 at a central position and parallel to one another there are journalecl a pair of operating shafts i3 and i6 geared together by the pinions I5 and i8 for conjoint rotation in opposite directions. The shalt 13 carries a pair of arms ll amxed thereto, one arm being located adjacent each end thereo These arms ii are pivoted at their on r ends i8 toilinlrs i9 whichareelscpivotedinturnat 22 to the legs 2| at one tween the cross bar 22 and the legs 2!.

In a similar way the companion shaft ll car ries fixedly thereon arms 25 pivoted at 26 to members It and I2. The legs arealso braced by the diagonal braces 3| and 22.

In each arm ll, 25 is a notch 23 adapted to I be occupied by a projection St on the adjacent end of the link l9 or 21.

Oi course the device may be made out of any material desired but it is preferred that the two shafts or rollers l3 and M may he of tubular metal as illustrated more particularly in Figures 6 and 7. The steel tubing ll may beprovided with a lip turned on each end and the gear it stamped therein. 7

The arms .2! may be punched out or the tube and struclr up therefrom at substantially ri t angles to the axis of the imbe. This ction ailords a very cheap, simple and rigid arrangement.

In operation it will be understood that all four legs or the table are compelled to move in unison. only one leg need be =1 to close or collapse the tableandina waythe operationis simplified in the one 0! the table by the tact that the operator need have recourse to only one the links and thetour legs.

When the legs are op ned out to the full extent the projections til will tall just short of entering; the notches it, this final movement being made necessary by the direct action or the operator as by pushing down upon one ,o: the links when the table is in inverted position. This movement will be communicated to all of the arms causing all of the proieci'ons st to simultaneously enter their respective notches l3.

In this position a toggle lmk is formed in which the pivots l8 and 28 on the one side and 2E. and 28 on the other side will be substantially in aline ment with the arm oi their respective shells or side of the table. The logs 2i arecarrledbyacrossbar 22 suitably journaled for rotation in the side H v and'i2. Diagonal braces 22 and 24 extend bemovement of all of the. four arms with accom operation of till slightly beyond this point of alinement whereby no force applied to the table legs will be able to move those legs even in the slightest degree. The toggle lock must be broken by act of the operator. This is a very simple operation however as it is only necessary to lift up upon one of the links preferably near the pivot point with the arm which will require only a very slight exercise of force. Due to the intergeared arrangement all of the toggle locks will be simultaneously disengaged and the entire leg structure may then be folded and collapsed within the confines of the table frame.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a so-called bridge table, it will be understood that the improved construction is applicable to other types of tables or furniture and particularly to collapsible tables.

It will be understood that for illustrative purposes the drawings and description only disclose a single form of which the invention is susceptible and I reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved bridle table comprising a table top and frame, legs pivoted to the frame, links pivoted to the legs, shafts iournaled in the frame and geared together for conjoint rotation, arms on the shafts pivoted to the links, said links and arms having locking means for engagement when the legs are moved to the fully open. position.

2. An improved bridge table comprising a table top and frame. legs pivoted to the frame, links pivoted to the legs, shafts iournaled in the frame and geared together for conjoint rotation, arms on the shafts pivoted to the links, said links and arms having mating notches and projections for locking engagement when the legs are in the fully open position.

3. An improved bridge table comprising a table top and frame, legs pivoted to the frame, links pivoted to the legs, shafts iournaled in the frame and geared together for conjoint rotation, arms on the shafts pivoted to the links, said arms having notches therein, said links having end portions overlapping the pivotal connection with said arms, said overlapping portions of the links having projections at substantially right angles therefrom to enter said notches when the legs are in the fully open position.

4. An improved bridge table comprising a table top and frame, tubular metal shafts having end portions journaled in the frame in parallel side by side relation, intermeshing gears on said shafts, arms on said hollow shafts, said arms having notches therein, links pivoted to the arms, legs foldably connected with the table and pivoted to said links, said links having end portions overlapping the pivotal connection with the arms,

such overlapping portions having projections at 

